Video overlay circuit for synchronizing and combining analog and digital signals

ABSTRACT

A video/graphics overlay circuit receives an analog input composite video signal and a digital input composite video signal and combines them into a linear combination output composite video signal depending on the state of one or more mixer control signals. The two composite video input signals are each capacitively coupled to buffer and clamp circuits through which the blank or DC level of each signal is clamped to two volts. The outputs of the buffer and clamp circuits are then fed to a mixer circuit and burst separator circuits. The mixer circuit generates the output composite video signal which is a linear combination of the input composite video signals as controlled by the one or more mixer control signals. The burst separator circuits separate the burst signal from the input composite video signals. The extracted burst signals are then provided to a burst signal phase-locked loop for locking the burst signals of the input composite video signals in phase. The feedback loop of the burst signal phase-locked loop is closed through a digital encoder circuit and changes the phase and frequency of the burst signal within the digital input composite video signal until it is locked in phase with the analog input composite video signal. A burst lock signal is generated when the burst signals of the two input signals are locked in phase. A horizontal lock signal is generated when the horizontal sync signals of the two input signals are locked in phase. A black and white detector circuit generates a signal which indicates whether the analog input composite video signal is a black and white signal or a color signal.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of theco-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/000,370 filed onJun. 21, 1995 and entitled "Video/Graphic Overlay IC." The provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/000,370 filed on Jun. 21, 1995 and entitled"Video/Graphic Overlay IC" is also hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of generating an output videosignal which is a combination of two input video signals. In particular,the present invention relates to the field of generating an output videosignal which is a linear combination of an analog input video signal anda digitally encoded input video signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The technique of digitally encoding a video signal and particularly acomposite video signal, is well known. Sampling pulses are generated insynchronism with a color video burst signal. The sampling pulses have arepetition rate that is a multiple of the burst signal frequency. Eachsample of the color video signal is encoded, or digitized, such as bypulse code modulation (PCM). Digitally encoded video signals are used intime base error correction devices, noise suppression devices, theaddition of various special video effects and the like. Digitallyencoded video signals are particularly advantageous for recording andreproduction and also for special types of transmission.

In many video transmission systems, color or chrominance information isrepresented by a particular phase of the chrominance subcarrier signalthat is amplitude modulated with color information. Since the phase ofthe color subcarrier signal is used to represent color information, itis important that, when digitally encoding the color video signal, thephase of the sampling pulses be accurately controlled. Undesired phaseshifts, such as may be due to temperature drift, aging of the electricalcomponents, and the like, may result in a phase error in the samplingpulse relative to the chrominance subcarrier signal which has the effectof distorting or interfering with the overall chrominance effect of thevideo picture which ultimately is reproduced from the digitally encodedvideo signal.

To identify the aforementioned phase shifts between the sampling pulsesand the chrominance subcarrier signal, the instantaneous phase angle ofthe burst signal at the time of sampling is determined. If the phaseangle of the burst signal differs from a desired phase angle, the phaseof the sampling pulses may be adjusted accordingly. If the phase angleof the burst signal is different than an expected phase angle, the phasedifference between the modulated chrominance information and the signalwill also be in error, thereby causing distortion of the color within anoutput video signal.

It is therefore important to the operation of the video transmissionsystem that the burst signal is separated correctly from the compositevideo signal in order that the phase of the burst signal can be comparedto the phase of a reference signal. Any error in separating the burstsignal from the input composite video signal may result in an errordetermining the phase difference between the two signals and will causethe output video signal to be in error.

A composite color video signal includes horizontal synchronizingsignals, a burst signal superimposed onto the pedestal level at the backporch of the horizontal synchronizing signal and a video informationsignal. The video information signal comprises a chrominance subcarrierhaving different phases amplitude-modulated with chrominanceinformation. The composite color video signal includes both luminanceand chrominance information. Separator circuits are utilized to separatethe horizontal synchronizing signal and the burst signal from theincoming video signal. The burst signal has a burst signal frequencyequal to 3.58 MHz, which is the frequency of the chrominance subcarrierf_(sc).

Within the composite video signal the values of the components aredetermined by their relative amplitude with respect to the blank orpedestal level. It is therefore essential that the blank or pedestallevel is maintained at a known level so that the value of the componentof the composite video signal can be readily determined. In the past,the blank level has been set to a known DC level allowing the values ofthe components of the composite video signal to be determined bydetermining their amplitude with respect to the blank level. However,care must be taken when setting the blank level to a specific value thatthe remainder of the composite video signal is not altered. Videosystems of the prior art, in order to set the blank level to a knownvalue, would separate the chrominance and luminance information from thecomposite video signal and then hard-clamp the blank level of thecomposite video signal to the appropriate level. Such a system isdisadvantageous because at least two additional pins on the integratedcircuit and external components are required within the system.

The video signal can also be separated into a separate chrominance or Csignal and separate luminance or Y signal. A properly configuredtelevision, monitor or display will accept the separate chrominance Cand luminance Y signal.

The composite video signal contains information which is used by a videosystem to generate a video picture on a display, monitor or television.Each period, within the horizontal portion of a composite video signalcontains information representing one horizontal output line which is tobe output on the video display, monitor or television. Each horizontalperiod includes a horizontal synchronization pulse, a burst signal and avideo information signal. In many video transmission systems, color orchrominance information is represented by a particular phase of thechrominance subcarrier signal that is amplitude modulated with colorinformation. The horizontal synchronization pulse is used by aphase-locked loop to synchronize the system for displaying the nexthorizontal line of video information. The burst signal is used tosynchronize the phase of the sampling pulses with the phase of the colorsubcarrier signal.

A video picture or frame is made up of a number of horizontal linesincluded within the video display. To display a video picture or framethe video system begins at the top of the screen and displays theinformation within the composite video signal one horizontal line at atime. The information for each horizontal line is contained within ahorizontal period of the composite video signal. After each horizontalperiod, the video system moves to the next line and displays theinformation within the next horizontal period of the composite videosystem. This continues until the video system reaches the bottom line onthe video display. After displaying the video information on the bottomline of the video display, the video system must reset itself to the topof the display in order to begin displaying the next frame. In order toallow the system to reset itself to the top of the video display avertical blanking period is included within the composite video signal,after the video information for each frame. This vertical blankingperiod allows the video system to reset to the top of the video displayand begin displaying the information for the horizontal lines of thenext frame. Therefore, a number of horizontal periods, enough tocomprise a frame or screen, are strung together, within the compositevideo signal. Between each frame, the composite video signal includes avertical blanking period which allows the video system to perform avertical reset and prepare to display the next frame by moving back upto the top of the video display.

During the vertical blanking period the composite video signal includesa first period of equalizing pulses, a period of serration pulses and asecond period of equalizing pulses. During this vertical blanking periodthe video system resets itself to the top of the video display so thatit is ready to begin displaying the information for the next frame.However, the video system must be notified of or be able to detect thevertical blanking period so that it can reset itself to the top of thevideo display. The serration pulses carry synchronization informationused by the local vertical oscillator, within the video system, during avertical reset.

The equalizing and serration pulses during the vertical blanking periodare all generated at a frequency equal to twice the frequency of thehorizontal synchronizing pulses. A sync separator circuit is used toseparate all of the synchronization pulses from the composite videosignal including the horizontal, equalizing and serration pulses.However, the sync separator circuit separates the synchronization pulsesby comparing their amplitude with respect to the blank level of thesignal and therefore has no way of differentiating between horizontalsynchronization pulses, equalizing pulses and serration pulses. Theoutput of the sync separator circuit is used by the horizontalphase-locked loop to lock the video system in phase with the compositevideo signal during the horizontal period of each frame. During thevertical blanking period, the sync separator circuit will output theequalizing and serration pulses which are generated at twice thefrequency of the horizontal synchronization pulses. Thus, twice as manysynchronization pulses are generated during the vertical blanking periodas during the horizontal period.

A mixer circuit, as illustrated in FIG. 1, mixes two input signalstogether in a predetermined ratio forming an output signal. The mixingof the two input signals is controlled by a control signal whichspecifies the ratio of the input signals. Input signals Input1 andInput2 are coupled as inputs to the mixer circuit 10. A control signalControl is coupled as a control input to the mixer circuit 10 forcontrolling the mixing ratio of the two input signals Input1 and Input2.The mixer circuit 10 outputs an output signal Output which is acombination of the two input signals Input1 and Input2 in apredetermined ratio, as specified by the control signal Control. In thismanner the mixer circuit 10 combines the two input signals Input1 andInput2 into a single output signal Output.

When either or both of the two input signals Input1 and Input2 areprovided to the mixer circuit 10 from a separate integrated circuit,noise may be introduced into the output signal Output causing the outputsignal Output to be in error or perhaps distorted. This noise resultsbecause the level of the input signals Input1 and Input2 will each be inreference to a different ground reference signal when coupled fromseparate integrated circuits. The mixer circuit 10 has a separate groundreference signal. Each of the ground reference signals corresponding toeach of the input signals Input1 and Input2 may be different than theground reference signal of the mixer circuit 10. Thus, the level of eachinput signal Input1 and Input2 may be correct with respect to its ownground reference signal but may be in error with respect to the groundreference signal of the mixer circuit 10. Accordingly, when the inputsignals Input1 and Input2 are combined by the mixer circuit 10generating the output signal Output, the different ground referencelevels of each of the signals, will cause noise or distortion to beintroduced into the output signal Output. This noise or distortion willnegatively impact the quality of the output signal Output.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A video/graphics overlay circuit receives an analog input compositevideo signal and a digital input composite video signal and combinesthem into a linear combination output composite video signal dependingon the state of one or more mixer control signals. The two compositevideo input signals are each capacitively coupled to buffer and clampcircuits through which the blank or DC level of each signal is clampedto two volts. The outputs of the buffer and clamp circuits are then fedto a mixer circuit and burst separator circuits. The mixer circuitgenerates the output composite video signal which is a linearcombination of the input composite video signals as controlled by theone or more mixer control signals. The burst separator circuits separatethe burst signal from the input composite video signals. The extractedburst signals are then provided to a burst signal phase-locked loop forlocking the burst signals of the input composite video signals in phase.The feedback loop of the burst signal phase-locked loop is closedthrough a digital encoder circuit and changes the phase and frequency ofthe burst signal within the digital input composite video signal untilit is locked in phase with the analog input composite video signal. Aburst lock signal is generated when the burst signals of the two inputsignals are locked in phase. A horizontal lock signal is generated whenthe horizontal sync signals of the two input signals are locked inphase. A black and white detector circuit generates a signal whichindicates whether the analog input composite video signal is a black andwhite signal or a color signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a video mixer circuit which mixes two input signalstogether in a predetermined ratio.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram schematic of a video display system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram schematic of a video/graphics overlaycircuit according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A block diagram schematic of a video display system of which thevideo/graphic overlay circuit of the present invention is a part, isillustrated in FIG. 2. An analog input video signal is input to ananalog demodulator 22. An output of the analog demodulator 22 is coupledas an analog input composite video signal CVInR to a video/graphicsoverlay integrated circuit 40. A digital input video signal is input toa digital demodulator 26. An output of the digital demodulator 26 iscoupled as an input to a digital overlay control circuit 28. A video andgraphics data output of the digital overlay control circuit 28 iscoupled as an input to a digital encoder 30 to provide the digital videosignal to the digital encoder 30. A mixer control output of the digitaloverlay circuit 28 is coupled as an input to the video/graphics overlayintegrated circuit 40. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCXO) 32 iscoupled to provide a clock input signal to the digital overlay controlcircuit 28 and the digital encoder integrated circuit 30. The VCXO 32 iscontrolled by a control signal VCXO Control output from thevideo/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40. The digital encoderintegrated circuit 30 encodes the video and graphics data received fromthe digital overlay control circuit 28 into an analog format compositevideo signal, which will be referred to as a digital input compositevideo signal CVInd, or a Y/C video signal (S-Video), depending on theformat of the video and graphics data input. The digital encoderintegrated circuit 30 is coupled to provide the digital input compositevideo signal CVInd, a C output signal C and a Y output signal Y, asinputs to the video/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40. Thevideo/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40 is coupled to providecontrol signals VReset, HReset and Phase Control (VPWM) as inputs to thedigital encoder integrated circuit 30.

The video/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40 of the presentinvention is configured to receive the analog input composite videosignal CVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd whichare combined in a predetermined format into an output composite videosignal CVout. The video/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40 isconfigured for providing the output composite video signal CVout to adisplay system, such as a television. The video/graphics overlayintegrated circuit 40 also provides Y/C video output signals to output aY/C format video signal. If a Y/C format video signal is received by thevideo/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40 from the digital encoderintegrated circuit 30 then the video/graphics overlay integrated circuit40 will pass the Y and C signals through to the Y/C output and providethem in a purely digital format.

The digital video signal may be comprised of digital video, graphicsdata or both. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theoutput signal CVout may contain analog video only, analog video withgraphics, digital video only, digital video with graphics and graphicsonly. The contents of the output signal CVout and the mixture or ratioof the output is controlled by the mixer control signals provided fromthe digital overlay control circuit 28. The digital video and graphicsdata are encoded into an analog format composite video signal using thedigital encoder integrated circuit 30 and output as the digital inputcomposite video signal CVInd. This output is coupled to thevideo/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40. If the composite videooutput signal CVout is to contain both analog and digital videoinformation, then the analog video signal CVInR and the digitalcomposite video signal CVInd are combined by the video/graphics overlayintegrated circuit 40 using a predetermined ratio of signals, asspecified by the mixer control signals, and output as the analog formatcomposite video output signal CVout. It should be understood that whenthe digital input composite video signal CVInd is discussed herein ananalog format composite video signal representing the digital video andgraphics signal received by the digital encoder integrated circuit 30from the digital overlay control circuit 28 is being referred to. Inthis configuration, the digital composite video signal CVInd must be inphase with the analog input video signal CVInR in order to avoid adistorted output signal and also to ensure the output video picturecontains the appropriate colors. Accordingly, the video display systemof the present invention employs an automatic phase correction circuitintegrated within both the video/graphic overlay integrated circuit 40and the digital encoder integrated circuit 30, as will be explainedbelow, to lock the burst frequency and phase of the digital compositevideo signal CVInd to the burst frequency and phase of the analog inputvideo signal CVInR.

When only a pure analog video signal is to be output by thevideo/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40, the analog input videosignal CVInR is passed through the video/graphics overlay integratedcircuit 40 and output as the composite video output signal CVout,without any mixing or encoding. Correspondingly, when only a puredigital, graphics or combined digital and graphics signal is to beoutput by the video/graphics overlay integrated circuit 40, the digitalcomposite video signal CVInd, received from the digital encoderintegrated circuit 30, is passed through the video/graphics overlayintegrated circuit 40 and output as the composite video output signalCVout, without any mixing. When the mixer control signals specify thatthe composite video output signal CVout is to contain a predeterminedportion of the analog input composite video signal CVInR and apredetermined portion of the digital input composite video signal CVInd,then the signals CVInR and CVInd are combined by the video/graphicsoverlay integrated circuit 40 into the output composite video signalCVout.

The mixer control signals include three signal lines M0, M1 and α. Thesignals M0 and M1 specify the content of the output composite videosignal CVout and the signal α specifies the ratio of the analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR to the digital input composite video signalCVInd, if both are to be combined. If a digital input video signal andgraphics are to be combined into the digital input composite videosignal, this is done by the digital overlay control circuit 28 andprovided to the digital encoder integrated circuit 30 at the video andgraphics data input. The following table illustrates the relationship ofthe mixer signals M0, M1 and α to the contents of the output compositevideo signal CVout.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                        M0     M1          CVout                                                      ______________________________________                                        L      L           CVout = αCVInR + (1 - α)CVInd                  H      L           CVout = CVInR                                              L      H           CVout = CVInd                                              H      H           Not used                                                   ______________________________________                                    

As Table I illustrates, when both of the mixer control signals M0 and M1are at a logical low voltage level the output composite video signalCVout is comprised of a level of the analog input composite video signalCVInR equal to the level of the signal α and a level of the digitalinput composite video signal CVInd equal to the level of one minus thelevel of the signal α. When the mixer control signal M0 is at a logicalhigh voltage level and the mixer control signal M1 is at a logical lowvoltage level the output composite video signal CVout is comprised ofonly the analog input composite video signal CVInR. When the mixercontrol signal M0 is at a logical low voltage level and the mixercontrol signal M1 is at a logical high voltage level the outputcomposite video signal CVout is comprised of only the digital inputcomposite video signal CVInd.

A schematic block diagram of the video/graphics overlay circuit 40 ofthe present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR is received from the analog demodulator 22and coupled as an input to a buffer and clamp circuit 34 and as an inputto a burst gate generator circuit 38. The digital input composite videosignal CVInd is received from the digital encoder circuit 30 and coupledas an input to a buffer and clamp circuit 36. A separate chrominancesignal Cdenc and luminance signal Ydenc from the digital encoder circuit30 are coupled as inputs to a Y/C switch 90. A separate chrominancesignal Co1 and luminance signal Yo1 are separated from the outputcomposite video signal CVout and coupled as inputs to the Y/C switch 90providing a feedback path from the output. The output of the Y/C switch90 provides separate Y/C output signals. When separate signals Y and Care output, the Y/C switch 90 outputs either the separate chrominancesignal Cdenc and luminance signal Ydenc or the separate chrominancesignal Co1 and luminance signal Yo1.

The mixer control signals Vmix, M0 and M1 and a horizontal blankingsignal HB are coupled as inputs to a mixer control circuit 82. The mixercontrol signal Vmix corresponds to the signal α, discussed above, whichspecifies the mixing ratio of the two input composite video signalsCVInR and CVInd. Outputs of the mixer control circuit 82 are coupled asinputs to a mixer circuit 80. The mixer control circuit 82 generates theoutputs to control the mixer circuit 80 based on the state of the mixercontrol signals Vmix, M0 and M1.

An external burst gate signal EXTBG is coupled as an input to the burstgate generator 38. An output of the burst gate generator circuit 38 iscoupled as an input to the Y/C switch 90, to the buffer and clampcircuits 34 and 36 and to burst separator circuits 44 and 46. The burstgate generator circuit 38 provides a burst pulse signal which informsthe Y/C switch 90, the buffer and clamp circuits 34 and 36 and the burstseparator circuits 44 and 46 that the burst signal is present within theanalog input composite video signal CVInR. When the analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR and the digital input composite videosignal CVInd are locked together in phase the activation of the burstpulse signal will also represent that the burst signal is present withinthe digital input composite video signal CVInd. The burst gate generatorcircuit 38 will only generate the burst pulse signal when the analoginput composite video signal CVInR is present. When the analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR is not present, the external burst gatesignal is utilized to inform the necessary circuitry that the burstpulse is present. This external burst gate signal EXTBG is automaticallyselected when the mixer control signal M1 is at a logical high voltagelevel and the output composite video signal CVout is comprised of onlythe digital input composite video signal CVInd.

An output of the buffer and clamp circuit 36 is coupled as an input tothe burst separator circuit 46 and to the mixer circuit 80. An output ofthe buffer and clamp circuit 34 is coupled as an input to the burstseparator circuit 44, to a low pass filter 42 and to the mixer circuit80. An output of the mixer circuit 80 provides the output compositevideo signal CVout.

An output of the low pass filter 42 is coupled as an input to a syncseparator circuit 48 for separating the synchronization signals from theanalog input composite video signal. An output of the sync separatorcircuit 48 is coupled as an input to a vertical reset generator circuit50 and to a horizontal sync separator circuit 56. An output of thevertical reset generator circuit 50 provides a vertical reset signalVRESET which signals to the video system that it is time for a verticalreset to the top of the screen for displaying the next frame. An outputof the horizontal separator circuit 56 provides a horizontal resetsignal HRESET which signals that it is time for a horizontal reset todisplay the next horizontal line of information. The output of thehorizontal separator circuit 56 is also coupled as an input to ahorizontal phase detector circuit 58. A digital horizontalsynchronization pulse signal Dhsync from the digital encoder 30 is alsoprovided as an input to the horizontal phase detector circuit 58. Thehorizontal phase detector circuit 58 detects any difference in phasebetween the output of the horizontal separator circuit 56 and thedigital horizontal synchronization pulse signal Dhsync. The phasedetector 58 is coupled to a horizontal lock detector circuit 60. Anoutput of the horizontal lock detector circuit 60 provides a horizontallock signal LockH for signalling that the output of the horizontalseparator circuit 56 and the digital horizontal synchronization pulsesignal Dhsync are locked together in phase.

An output of the horizontal phase detector circuit 58 is coupled as aninput to a charge pump circuit 62. An output of the charge pump circuit62 is coupled as an input to control a voltage controlled oscillator 64.An output of the voltage controlled oscillator 64 provides a clockingoutput signal which preferably has a frequency of 27 MHz. Together, thehorizontal separator circuit 56, the horizontal phase detector circuit58, the charge pump circuit 62 and the voltage controlled oscillator 64form a horizontal phase-locked loop 52 for locking in phase thehorizontal synchronization pulses of the analog input composite videosignal CVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd. Theoutput from the voltage controlled oscillator 64 provides a clockreference signal CLK27 which is used to clock the horizontalsynchronization pulses of the digital input composite video signalCVInd. The frequency of the digital input composite video signal isadjusted by the horizontal phase-locked loop 52 to match the frequencyof the analog input composite video signal CVInR. In a similar manner,the horizontal phase-locked loop 52 can also be utilized with anexternal voltage controlled oscillator to generate a clock signal. Theoutput of the charge pump circuit 62 is also provided as the controlsignal HPCAP for controlling the external voltage controlled oscillator.

An output Burst0 of the burst separator circuit 44 is coupled as aninput to a burst phase detector circuit 66 and to a black and whitedetector circuit 70. The output Burst0 of the burst separator circuit 44represents only the burst signal from the analog input composite videosignal CVInR. An output Burst1 of the burst separator circuit 46 iscoupled as an input to the burst phase detector circuit 66. The outputBurst1 of the burst separator circuit 46 represents only the burstsignal from the digital input composite video signal CVInd. The burstphase detector circuit 66 detects any difference in phase between theburst signals of the analog input composite video signal CVInR and thedigital input composite video signal CVInd. The burst phase detector 66is coupled to a burst lock detector circuit 68. An output of the burstlock detector circuit 68 provides a burst lock signal LockC forsignalling that the output Burst0 and the output Burst1 are lockedtogether in phase.

An output of the black and white detector circuit 70 provides an outputsignal BWDet which when active signals that the analog input compositevideo signal CVInR is a color video signal. When the output signal BWDetis not active it signals that the analog input composite video signalCVInR is a black and white video signal. The black and white detectorcircuit 70 differentiates between a color and a black and white videosignal by determining if there is a burst signal present within theanalog input composite video signal CVInR. If a burst signal is presentwithin the analog input composite video signal CVInR then the analoginput composite video signal CVInR is a color video signal. If no burstsignal is present then the analog input composite video signal CVInR isa black and white video signal.

An output of the phase detector circuit 66 provides an input to a chargepump circuit 72. An output of the charge pump circuit 72 is coupled asan input to a pulse width modulation circuit 74. An output of the pulsewidth modulation circuit 74 is provided as a phase control signal SCOwhich is coupled to the digital encoder circuit 30. The phase detectorcircuit 66, the charge pump circuit 72 and the pulse width modulationcircuit 74 form a portion of a burst signal phase-locked loop 54. Theremainder of the burst signal phase-locked loop 54 is included withinthe digital encoder 30 which includes a numerically controlledoscillator for controlling the phase of the digital input compositevideo signal CVInd generated by the digital encoder 30. The burst signalphase-locked loop 54 alters the phase of the burst signal within thedigital input composite video signal CVInd in order to lock the digitalinput composite video signal CVInd in phase with the analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR.

The video/graphics overlay circuit 40 receives the analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR and the digital input composite videosignal CVInd and combines them in a predetermined format into the outputcomposite video signal CVOut. The analog input composite video signalCVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd are combined bythe mixer circuit 80. The mixer control circuit 80 receives the controlinput signals Vmix, M0 and M1 and will control the mixer circuit 80according to the states of those signals, as described above andillustrated in Table I. The output composite video signal CVOut is thentransmitted to a video display device such as a television or monitor.Alternatively, the video/graphics overlay circuit 40 will outputseparate chrominance C and luminance Y signals through the output signalY/C out.

The burst gate generator circuit 38 generates a burst gate signalrepresentative of a time period during which a burst signal is presentwithin the analog input composite video signal CVInR. The burst gatepulse generator 38 detects the end of the horizontal synchronizationsignal and begins the burst gate pulse at the end of the horizontalsynchronization signal. A timing circuit within the burst gate pulsegenerator 38 includes a charge storage device and a charge deliverydevice which control the duration of the burst pulse. When the burstpulse is activated the charge delivery device controls the duration ofthe burst pulse. When the burst pulse is activated the charge deliverydevice begins building a charge across the charge storage device until athreshold value is reached. Once the charge stored across the chargestorage device equals the threshold value the burst pulse isdeactivated. During the time when the burst pulse is active, the burstsignal will be present within the analog input composite video signalCVInR. In order to have a fixed value for a sync tip of the horizontalsynchronization pulse and to be able to apply certain thresholds withinthe burst gate pulse generator, the sync tip of the input compositevideo signal CVInR is clamped to a level equal to 2.5 volts. Preferably,the burst gate pulse generated by the burst gate pulse generator 38 hasa duration equal to 3.5 microseconds. The burst gate generator circuit38 uses the analog input composite video signal CVInR to generate theburst gate pulse signal. However, when the analog input composite videosignal CVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd arelocked together in phase, the burst signals will be present within bothof the input composite video signals at the same time. A preferredembodiment of the burst gate generator circuit 38 is described inco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/583,986, filed on thesame date as the present application and entitled "Burst Gate PulseGenerator," which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The buffer and clamp circuits 34 and 36 clamp the blank or DC level ofthe analog input composite video signal CVInR and the digital inputcomposite video signal CVInd, respectively, to a known value withoutaltering the other components of the signals. The values of thecomponents within the composite video signals CVInR and CVInd aredetermined by determining their amplitude with respect to the blanklevel. The buffer and clamp circuits 34 and 36 set the blank level ofthe composite video signal to a known level for determining the truevalue of the components. The output of the buffer and clamp circuits 34and 36 provide composite video signals representative of the inputcomposite video signals CVInR and CVInd with the blank or pedestal levelset to a known DC level. Preferably, the DC level is set to two volts.The burst gate pulse representing the presence of a burst signal withinthe composite video signal is received by the buffer and clamp circuits34 and 36 from the burst gate generator circuit 38. During the burstperiod, the buffer and clamp circuits 34 and 36 soft clamps the blanklevel of the composite video signals CVInR and CVInd to the appropriatelevel without altering the content of the burst signals. The DC level ofthe output signal is compared to the appropriate level by a comparatorcircuit. During the burst period, if the DC level of the input compositevideo signals CVInR and CVInd is less than the appropriate level, it israised by a charging circuit within the buffer and clamp circuits 34 and36. During the burst period, if the DC level of the input compositevideo signals CVInR and CVInd is greater than the appropriate level, itis lowered by a discharging circuit. During non-burst periods, when theburst signal is not present within the composite video signals CVInR andCVInd, the charging and discharging circuits within the buffer and clampcircuits 34 and 36 are disabled and the DC level of each of thecomposite video signals CVInR and CVInd are maintained at a constantlevel. A preferred embodiment of the buffer and clamp circuits 34 and 36is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/885,298,filed on the same date as the present application and entitled"Composite Video Signal Backporch Soft-Clamp System Using Servo Loop,"which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The burst separator circuits 44 and 46 receive the clamped analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR and the clamped digital input compositevideo signal CVInd, respectively. The burst separator circuits 44 and 46also each receive the burst gate pulse from the burst gate generatorcircuit 38 which represents the presence of the burst signal within theinput composite video signals. During a burst period, when the burstgate pulse is active, the burst signal is extracted from the inputcomposite video signals CVInR and CVInd by the burst separator circuits44 and 46 and converted to square waveforms. Within each of the burstseparator circuits 44 and 46, a differential pair and comparator circuitmonitors the appropriate input composite video signal and compares it toa constant level reference voltage signal. A constant high voltage levelis output, during a burst period, when the burst signal is greater thanthe constant level reference signal. A constant low voltage level isoutput, during a burst period, when the burst signal is less than theconstant level reference signal. During non-burst periods a constant DClevel voltage signal is output by the burst separator circuits 44 and46. A preferred embodiment of each of the burst separator circuits 44and 46 is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/585,429, filed on the same date as the present application andentitled "Burst Separator And Slicer Circuit," which is herebyincorporated by reference.

The mixer circuit 80 combines the analog input composite video signalCVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd into the outputcomposite video signal CVout in a predetermined ratio, as specified bythe mixer control signals Vmix, M0 and M1. The mixer control signal Vmixcorresponds to the mixer control signal α, discussed above, andspecifies the ratio of the input signals. Table I above illustrates therelationship of the mixer signals Vmix, M0 and M1 to the contents of theoutput composite video signal CVout. The mixer circuit 80 of thepreferred embodiment includes common-mode noise rejection to reduce theeffect of noise within the output composite video signal CVout. Becausethe input video signals CVInR and CVInd are provided from differentintegrated circuits with potentially different ground levels, the inputsignals CVInR and CVInd and their respective ground signals are allcoupled to the mixer circuit 80. The mixer circuit eliminatescommon-mode noise within the output composite video signal CVout, causedby each input signal having a different ground reference signal, bypassing each input signal differentially with its respective groundreference signal to a standard Gilbert Cell. The mixer control signalsoutput from the mixer control circuit 82 are coupled as inputs to theGilbert Cell for controlling the ratio of the input signals CVInR andCVInd included within the output composite video signal CVout. TheGilbert Cell receives the differential input signals CVInR and CVInd andoutputs a differential output signal comprised of a predetermined ratioof the input signals as specified by the control signals. Thedifferential output signal is then converted to a single ended outputsignal. After being converted to a single ended output voltage, thesingle ended output signal is passed through an output buffer andprovided as the output composite video signal CVout. A preferredembodiment of the mixer circuit 80 is described in co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 08/534,926, filed on the same date as thepresent application and entitled "Mixer With Common-Mode NoiseRejection," which is hereby incorporated by reference.

When the analog input composite video signal CVInR and the digital inputcomposite video signal CVInd are mixed and combined into the outputcomposite video signal CVOut, it is necessary that the phase andfrequency of the input video signals CVInR and CVInd are equal to ensurea correct display of the output video signal CVout. An automatic phasecorrection circuit is implemented by the burst signal phase-locked loop54 and corresponding circuitry within the digital encoder circuit 30.The automatic phase correction circuit locks the burst frequency of theanalog composite video signal CVInR and the digital video CVInd togetherutilizing a numerically controlled oscillation circuit when both theanalog and digital video signals are combined into the output compositevideo signal CVout. The phase and frequency of the digital compositevideo signal CVInd are adjusted to match the phase and frequency of theanalog input composite video signal CVInR. The burst frequency and phaseof the digital composite video signal CVInd is compared to the burstfrequency and phase of the analog input composite video signal CVInR bythe phase detector circuit 66. Any difference detected between the burstfrequency and phase of the digital input composite video signal CVIndand the analog input composite video signal CVInR by the phase detectorcircuit 66 is then used to correct the burst frequency and phase of thedigital composite video signal CVInd. The phase detector circuit 66provides an output signal which is used by the charge pump circuit 72 tocontrol a numerically controlled oscillator of which the pulse widthmodulation circuit 54 is a part. The remainder of the numericallycontrolled oscillator is implemented within the digital encoder circuit30. A preferred embodiment of the automatic phase correction circuit isdescribed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/585,398,filed on the same date as the present application and entitled"Automatic Phase Control Apparatus For Phase Locking The Chroma Burst OfAnalog And Digital Video Data Using a Numerically ControlledOscillator," which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Because the automatic phase control circuit uses the burst signals tolock in phase the analog input composite video signal CVInR and thedigital input composite video signal CVInd, the circuit will be in ahold mode during the remaining portions of the composite video signal.The charge pump circuit 72 therefore includes an error regulator circuitwhich maintains the voltage across a charge pump capacitor during aninactive period at an appropriate level by monitoring the charge pumpcontrol signals UP and DOWN. The voltage level across the charge pumpcapacitor is only allowed to vary a predetermined amount before thecurrent sources within the charge pump circuit are disabled. When eitherof the charge pump control signals UP and DOWN remain at a logical highvoltage level for a predetermined period of time, indicating that thecharge pump circuit is in a hold mode, the current sources within thecharge pump are temporarily disabled. Therefore, during a hold period,the charge pump circuit is prevented from charging or discharging thecharge pump capacitor past a predetermined threshold level, therebyallowing the charge pump circuit to maintain an appropriate level ofcharge across the charge pump capacitor during an inactive or holdperiod. A preferred embodiment of the charge pump circuit 72 isdescribed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/584,925,filed on the same date as the present application and entitled "ErrorRegulator Circuit For Sample And Hold Phase Locked Loops," which ishereby incorporated by reference.

The charge pump circuit 72 further includes a circuit for maintainingphase lock between the burst signals of the analog input composite videosignal CVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd. Asdescribed above, the charge pump circuit charges and discharges astorage element, preferably a capacitor, to an appropriate voltage levelin response to the one or more control signals. The voltage level storedacross the storage element is used by a phase-locked loop to establishand maintain phase lock between the two signals CVInR and CVInd. Whenphase lock has been established between the two signals, the phasedetector 66 detects this phase lock and the control signals from thephase detector 66 will become inactive. Once phase lock has beenestablished and during other periods of time when all of the one or morecontrol signals are inactive, the charge pump circuit provides highimpedance charge and discharge paths for the storage element in order tomaintain a constant level of voltage across the storage element. Thehigh impedance charge and discharge paths prevent leakage from thestorage element and minimize the droop rate of the voltage level acrossthe storage element, thereby maintaining a constant voltage level acrossthe storage element when the one or more control signals are allinactive. The preferred embodiment of the circuit for maintaining phaselock between the burst signals of the analog input composite videosignal CVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd isdescribed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/592,545,filed on the same date as the present application and entitled "LowLeakage Charge Pump Circuit For Maintaining A Constant Level Of Charge,"which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The Y/C switch 90 switches between the separate chrominance signal Co1and luminance signal Yo1 and the separate chrominance signal Cdenc andseparate luminance signal Ydenc using a current-mode switch. Each of theinput signals Co1, Yo1, Cdenc and Ydenc are provided with their blanklevels clamped to a predetermined constant level. Preferably, the blanklevels are clamped to two volts. An output signal Y/C Out is output bythe Y/C switch 90 which represents one of the sets of the input signals,either the input signals Co1 and Yo1 or the input signals Cdenc andYdenc. The Y/C switch 90 receives two control signals from the videosystem which specify which one of the sets of input video signals are tobe represented by the output signal. A back-to-back diode configuredisolation circuit is used to isolate from the output signal the one ofthe two input video signals which is not represented by the outputsignal. A preferred embodiment of the Y/C switch 90 is described inco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/584,923, filed on thesame date as the present application and entitled "Method Of AndApparatus For Providing A High Speed Video Switch," which is herebyincorporated by reference.

The clamped analog input composite video signal CVInR from the bufferand clamp circuit 34 is filtered through a low pass filter 42. Theoutput of the low pass filter 42 is then input to the sync separatorcircuit 48. The sync separator circuit 48 separates the synchronizationpulses from the clamped analog input composite video signal CVInR. Thesynchronization pulses include horizontal synchronization pulses,equalizing pulses and serration pulses. The synchronization pulses fromthe sync separator circuit 48 are then input to a vertical resetgenerator circuit 50 which generates a vertical reset pulse which isactive during the presence of serration pulses within the analog inputcomposite video signal CVInR. The output of the sync separator circuit48, including horizontal sync pulses, equalizing pulses and serrationpulses, is provided to a charging circuit which charges up a capacitorwhen the output of the sync separator circuit is at a low level anddischarges the capacitor when the output of the sync separator circuitis at a high level. The serration pulses are at a low level for agreater time period than the equalizing pulses. The charge built upacross the capacitor is therefore greater during a serration pulse thanduring an equalizing pulse. An up threshold level is set so that thevoltage built up across the capacitor will not reach the thresholdduring the low level of an equalization pulse but will reach it duringthe low level of a serration pulse. During the first serration pulse,the charge across the capacitor rises above the up threshold levelcausing the vertical reset generator to activate a vertical reset pulse.A down threshold level is set so that the voltage across the capacitorwill not fall below that level during the high level of a serrationpulse but will fall below it during the next equalizing pulse. Duringthe first equalizing pulse after a serration pulse, the charge acrossthe capacitor falls below the down threshold level causing the verticalreset generator to deactivate the vertical reset pulse. The verticalreset pulse remains deactivated until the next serration pulse. Apreferred embodiment of the vertical reset generator circuit 50 isdescribed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/585,441,filed on the same date as the present application and entitled "VerticalReset Generator Circuit," which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The horizontal separator circuit 56 receives the output from the syncseparator circuit 48, including horizontal synchronization pulses,equalizing pulses and serration pulses and generates an output signalrepresentative of every horizontal synchronization pulse and every othervertical synchronization pulse. The vertical synchronization pulsesinclude equalizing pulses and serration pulses which have a frequencywhich is twice the frequency of the horizontal synchronization pulses. Acapacitor within the horizontal separator circuit 56 is used to store alevel of charge. A current source is used to charge the capacitor. Atransistor controlled by the output signal provides a discharge path forthe capacitor. A comparator monitors the voltage level stored across thecapacitor and enables an output generation circuit when the level ofcharge stored across the capacitor is above a predetermined thresholdlevel. The value of the capacitor and the value of the current sourcecause the time required to raise the voltage level across the capacitorto a level above the predetermined threshold level to be less than thetime between horizontal synchronization pulses and greater than the timebetween vertical synchronization pulses. The output generation circuitgenerates the output signal as a pulse signal representative of thesynchronization pulse. The output generation circuit is only enabledwhen the voltage level across the capacitor is greater than thepredetermined threshold level. Therefore, the pulse signal is enabledfor every horizontal synchronization pulse and for every other verticalsynchronization pulse. The output of the horizontal separator circuit 56is provided to the horizontal phase detector circuit 58 for locking thehorizontal sync pulses in phase. A preferred embodiment of thehorizontal separator circuit 56 is described in co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/583,972, filed on the same date as the presentapplication and entitled "Method Of And Apparatus For RemovingEqualizing Pulses Without Using External Pins," which is herebyincorporated by reference.

The horizontal lock detector circuit 60 signals that the output of thehorizontal separator circuit 56 and the digital horizontalsynchronization pulse signal Dhsync are locked together in phase. Thehorizontal lock detector circuit monitors a pair of control signals tothe charge pump circuit 62 in order to determine when sampling pulsesgenerated by the video system are locked in phase with horizontalsynchronization signals within an input composite video signal. Thecharge pump circuit 62 forms a portion of a horizontal phase-locked loopcircuit. The charge pump control signals UP and DOWN are generated bythe phase detector circuit 58 within the horizontal phase-locked loop 52in response to a difference in phase between the sampling pulses and thehorizontal synchronization pulses of the input composite video signal.In response to the charge pump control signals, the charge pump circuit62 generates an output which is used to either increase or decrease thefrequency of the sampling pulses in order to lock the sampling pulses inphase with the input composite video signal. Once the sampling pulsesare locked in phase with the input composite video signal, the chargepump control signals will become inactive. An output signal is generatedby the horizontal lock detector circuit 60 which is active when thesampling pulses are locked in phase with the input composite videosignal and inactive when the sampling pulses are not locked in phasewith the input composite video signal. A preferred embodiment of thehorizontal lock detector circuit 60 is described in co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 08/584,750, filed on the same date as thepresent application and entitled "Horizontal Lock Detector," which ishereby incorporated by reference.

The chroma lock detector circuit 68 signals that the burst signalsBurst0 and Burst1 are locked together in phase. The chroma lock detectorcircuit 68 monitors the charge pump control signals within thephase-locked loop 54 in order to determine when two input signals to thephase-locked loop Burst0 and Burst1 are locked together in phase. Theoutput signal LOCKC is generated by the chroma lock detector circuit 68which is active when the two signals are locked together in phase andinactive when the two input signals are not locked together in phase.The charge pump control signals UP and DOWN are generated by the phasedetector circuit 66 within the phase-locked loop 54 in response to adifference in phase between the two input signals Burst0 and Burst1. Inresponse to the charge pump control signals, the charge pump circuit 72generates an output which is used to either increase or decrease thefrequency of one of the two input signals in order to lock it in phasewith the other signal. Once the two input signals are locked together inphase, the charge pump control signals become inactive. When the chargepump control signals are inactive for a predetermined period of time,signalling that the two signals are locked together in phase, the outputof the chroma lock detector circuit 68 is activated and will remain at alogical high voltage level until the charge pump control signals becomeactive again. A preferred embodiment of the burst lock detector circuit68 is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/585,442, filed on the same date as the present application andentitled "Chroma Lock Detector," which is hereby incorporated byreference.

The black and white detector circuit 70 signals whether or not theanalog input composite video signal is a color or black and white videosignal. The black and white detector circuit 70 monitors the burstsignal Burst0 separated from a composite video signal in order todetermine when the composite video signal contains color or black andwhite video information. An output signal is generated by the black andwhite detector circuit 70 which is active when color information isincluded and inactive when black and white information is included. Theseparated burst signal Burst0 will oscillate above and below a firstthreshold value during a burst period if color information is included,and will remain constant if black and white information is included.When the burst signal oscillates above and below the first thresholdvalue for a predetermined period of time, an output signal is activatedand will remain active until the burst signal remains constant during aburst period. A current source is enabled when the burst signal risesabove the first threshold value. The current source builds up a firstlevel of charge on a first capacitor during the burst period. Adetecting circuit monitors the first level of charge to determine whenit rises above a second threshold value. A second level of charge isbuilt up on a second capacitor when the first level of charge is abovethe second threshold value. The output signal is activated when thesecond level of charge rises above a third threshold value, signallingthat the composite video signal includes color video information anddeactivated when the second level of charge falls below a fourththreshold level, signalling that the composite video signal includesblack and white video information. A preferred embodiment of the blackand white detector circuit 70 is described in co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/585,404, filed on the same date as the presentapplication and entitled "Black And White Video Signal Detector," whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

The video/graphics overlay circuit 40 of the present invention receivestwo composite video input signals CVInR and CVInd and combines them intoa linear combination output composite video signal CVout depending onthe state of the mixer control signals Vmix, M0 and M1. The twocomposite video input signals CVInR and CVInd are capacitively coupledto the buffer and clamp circuits 34 and 36, respectively, through whichthe blank or DC level of the signals is clamped to two volts. Theoutputs of the buffer and clamp circuits 34 and 36 are then fed to themixer circuit 80 and the burst separator circuits 44 and 46. The mixercircuit 80 generates the output composite video signal CVout which is alinear combination of the input video signals CVInR and CVInd ascontrolled by the mixer control signals Vmix, M0 and M1. The burstseparator circuits 44 and 46 separate the burst signal from the analoginput composite video signal CVInR and the digital input composite videosignal CVInd, respectively. The extracted burst signals Burst0 andBurst1 are then provided to the burst signal phase-locked loop 54 forlocking the burst signals of the analog input composite video signalCVInR and the digital input composite video signal CVInd in phase. Thefeedback loop of the of the burst signal phase-locked loop 54 is closedthrough the digital encoder circuit 30 and changes the phase andfrequency of the burst signal within the digital input composite videosignal CVInd until it is locked in phase with the analog input compositevideo signal. When the digital input composite video signal CVInd islocked in phase with the analog input composite video signal CVInR, theburst signal lock detector circuit 68 activates the signal LOCKC.

The horizontal phase-locked loop 52 detects the phase difference betweenthe sync signal from the horizontal separator circuit 56 and the digitalhorizontal sync signal Dhsync. The frequency of the digital inputcomposite video signal is adjusted, again through the digital encodercircuit 30 until the two sync signals are locked in phase. When thedigital horizontal sync signal Dhsync is locked in phase with the syncsignal from the horizontal separator circuit 56, the horizontal lockdetector circuit 60 activates the signal LOCKH.

The present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of theprinciples of construction and operation of the invention. Suchreference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is notintended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made inthe embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A video display system configured for receiving an analoginput composite video signal having a first phase and a first frequency,and a digital input composite video signal having a second phase and asecond frequency, the video display system comprising:a. an automaticphase and frequency correction circuit configured to receive the analoginput composite video signal and the digital input composite videosignal for monitoring the first phase, the second phase, the firstfrequently and the second frequency and ensuring that the second phaseand the second frequency are equal to the first phase and the firstfrequency, wherein the analog composite video signal is a master signaland is not adjusted and the digital input composite video signal is aslave signal and is adjusted so that the second phase equals the firstphase and the second frequency equals the first frequency; and b. amixer circuit configured to receive the analog input composite videosignal, the digital input composite video signal and one or more controlsignals for generating the output composite video signal representing apredetermined ratio of the analog input composite video signal and thedigital input composite video signal, wherein the mixer circuit receivesthe analog input composite video signal and a respective analog groundreference signal for generating a differential analog signal and thedigital input composite video signal and a respective digital groundreference signal for generating a differential digital signal.
 2. Thevideo display system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising asynchronization output circuit configured to receive the analog inputcomposite video signal, wherein the analog input composite video signalincludes horizontal synchronization pulses and vertical synchronizationpulses including equalizing pulses and serration pulses, and furtherwherein the synchronization output circuit generates a synchronizationsignal representative of every horizontal synchronization pulse andevery other vertical synchronization pulse.
 3. The video display systemas claimed in claim 2 further comprising a vertical reset pulsegenerating circuit coupled to the synchronization output circuit forgenerating a vertical reset pulse representative of the presence ofserration pulses within the analog input composite video signal.
 4. Thevideo display system as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a clampingcircuit configured to receive the analog input composite video signaland the digital input composite video signal for clamping a DC level ofthe analog and digital input composite video signals to a predeterminedvalue.
 5. The video display system as claimed in claim 4 furthercomprising an analog burst separating circuit coupled to the clampingcircuit for separating an analog burst signal from the analog inputcomposite video signal.
 6. The video display system as claimed in claim5 further comprising a digital burst separating circuit coupled to theclamping circuit for separating a digital burst signal form the digitalinput composite video signal.
 7. The video display system as claimed inclaim 6 further comprising a burst pulse generating circuit configuredto receive the analog input composite video signal and coupled to theanalog and digital burst separating circuits for generating a burstpulse signal representative of a time period during which an analogburst signal is present within the analog input composite video signal.8. A video display system for receiving video input signals andgenerating an output composite video signal comprising:a. an analoginput video receiving circuit configured for receiving an analog inputvideo signal having a first phase and first frequency; b. a digitalinput video receiving circuit configured for receiving a digital inputvideo signal having a second phase and a second frequency; c. a phaseand frequency detecting circuit coupled to receive a first signalrepresentative of the first phase and the first frequency and a secondsignal representative of the second phase and the second frequency fordetecting a first difference between the first signal and the secondsignal and generating a control output signal representative of thefirst difference signal; d. a correction circuit coupled to receive thecontrol output signal for adjusting the second phase and the secondfrequency in response to a magnitude of the control output signal; ande. a mixing circuit coupled to the analog input video receiving circuitand to the digital input video receiving circuit and further configuredfor receiving an analog ground reference signal and a digital groundreference signal for generating an analog differential signalrepresentative of a second difference between the analog input videosignal and the analog ground reference signal and a digital differentialsignal representative of a third difference between the digital inputvideo signal and the digital ground reference signal for combining theanalog differential signal and the digital differential signal in apredetermined ratio into an output video signal.
 9. The video displaysystem as claimed in claim 8 further comprising an analog clampingcircuit coupled to the analog input video receiving circuit for clampinga DC level of the analog input video signal to a predetermined value andgenerating an analog clamped output signal representative of the analoginput video signal with the DC level clamped to the predetermined value.10. The video display system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising adigital clamping circuit coupled to the digital input video receivingcircuit for clamping a DC level of the digital input video signal to thepredetermined value and generating a digital clamped output signalrepresentative of the digital input video signal with the DC levelclamped to the predetermined value.
 11. The video display system asclaimed in claim 10 further comprising an analog burst separatingcircuit coupled to the analog clamping circuit for generating an analogburst output signal representative of only an analog burst signal fromthe analog input video signal.
 12. The video display system as claimedin claim 11 further comprising a digital burst separating circuitcoupled to the digital clamping circuit for generating a digital burstoutput signal representative of only a digital burst signal from thedigital input video signal.
 13. The video display system as claimed inclaim 12 wherein the analog burst signal is the first signal and thedigital burst signal is the second signal and both the analog burstsignal and the digital burst signal are coupled to the phase andfrequency detecting circuit for detecting the first difference.
 14. Thevideo display system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a burstpulse generating circuit coupled to the analog input video receivingcircuit and to the analog and digital burst separating circuits forgenerating a burst pulse signal representative of a time period duringwhich an analog burst signal is present within the analog input videosignal.
 15. The video display system as claimed in claim 14 furthercomprising a synchronization output circuit coupled to the analog inputvideo receiving circuit, wherein the analog input video signal includeshorizontal synchronization pulses and vertical synchronization pulsesincluding equalizing pulses and serration pulses and further wherein thesynchronization output circuit generates a synchronization signalrepresentative of every horizontal synchronization pulse and alternatevertical synchronization pulses.
 16. The video display system as claimedin claim 15 further comprising a vertical reset pulse generating circuitcoupled to the synchronization output circuit for generating a verticalreset pulse representative of the presence of serration pulses withinthe analog input composite video signal.
 17. A method of automaticallyadjusting a phase and frequency of an encoded digital composite videosignal to lock to a phase and frequency of an analog video signalcomprising the steps of:a. receiving an analog ground reference signaland an analog video signal having a first phase and a first frequency;b. receiving a digital ground reference signal and a digital videosignal having a second phase and a second frequency; c. monitoring thefirst phase, the first frequency, the second phase and the secondfrequency; d. detecting a first difference between the first phase andthe second phase and a second difference between the first frequency andthe second frequency; e. adjusting the encoded digital composite videosignal in order to eliminate the first and second differences; f.generating an analog differential signal representative of an analogdifference between the analog video signal and the analog groundreference signal; g. generating a digital differential signalrepresentative of a digital difference between the digital video signaland the digital ground reference signal; and h. generating an outputvideo signal including a predetermined ratio of the analog differentialsignal and the digital differential signal.
 18. The method as claimed inclaim 17 further comprising the step of clamping a DC level of theanalog video signal and the digital video signal to a predeterminedvalue.
 19. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the stepof generating a burst pulse signal representative of a time periodduring which an analog burst signal is present within the analog videosignal.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising thestep of separating the analog burst signal from the analog video signaland a digital burst signal from the digital video signal.
 21. The methodas claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of generating asynchronization output signal representative of every horizontalsynchronization pulse and every other vertical synchronization pulsewithin the analog video signal, wherein the vertical synchronizationpulses include equalizing pulses and serration pulses included within avertical blanking period of the analog video signal.
 22. The method asclaimed in claim 21 further comprising the step of generating a verticalreset pulse representative of the presence of serration pulses withinthe analog video signal.
 23. A method of automatically adjusting a phaseand frequency of an encoded digital composite video signal to lock to aphase and frequency of an analog video signal and generating an outputvideo signal, comprising the steps of:a. receiving an analog groundreference signal and an analog video signal having a first phase and afirst frequency; b. receiving a digital ground reference signal and adigital video signal having a second phase and a second frequency; c.clamping a DC level of the analog video signal to a predetermined value;d. clamping a DC level of the digital video signal to the predeterminedvalue; e. monitoring the first phase, the first frequency, the secondphase and the second frequency; f. detecting a first difference betweenthe first phase and the second phase and a second difference between thefirst frequency and the second frequency; g. adjusting the encodeddigital composite video signal in order to eliminate the first andsecond differences; h. generating an analog differential signalrepresentative of an analog difference between the analog video signaland the analog ground reference signal; i. generating a digitaldifferential signal representative of a digital difference between thedigital video signal and the digital ground reference signal; and j.generating an output video signal including a predetermined ratio of theanalog differential signal and the digital differential signal.
 24. Themethod as claimed in claim 23 further comprising the step of generatinga burst pulse signal representative of a time period during which ananalog burst signal is present within the analog video signal.
 25. Themethod as claimed in claim 24 further comprising the step of separatingthe analog burst signal from the analog video signal and a digital burstsignal from the digital video signal.
 26. The method as claimed in claim25 further comprising the step of generating a synchronization outputsignal representative of every horizontal synchronization pulse andalternate vertical synchronization pulses within the analog videosignal, wherein the vertical synchronization pulses include equalizingpulses and serration pulses included within a vertical blanking periodof the analog video signal.
 27. The method as claimed in claim 26further comprising the step of generating a vertical reset pulserepresentative of the presence of serration pulses within the analogvideo signal.